S242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021 MORNING BUSINESS Mrs. O, as everyone affectionately it would be appropriate to share Sen- called her, had an unwavering cheerful- ator Mikulski’s heartfelt tribute. I also ness, a graciousness, and an uplifting have tributes from former Majority CONFIRMATION OF PETER PAUL spirit that made her one of the most Leader Harry Reid; Senator Mikulski’s MONTGOMERY BUTTIGIEG admired figures on Capitol Hill and chief of staff, Dr. Shannon Kula; the Mr. PAUL. Madam President, I voted around Maryland. I always looked for- Acting Administrator of the National to confirm the nomination of Pete ward to seeing her when I would visit Aeronautics & Space Administration, Buttigieg to be Secretary of the De- Senator Mikulski’s office, which was Steve Jurczyk; and a statement from partment of Transportation. As a located just around the corner from my the Civil Air Patrol. I ask unanimous former mayor, Secretary Buttigieg un- own office. Everyone who knew her consent that these statements be print- derstands that infrastructure in a state treasured her political acumen and in- ed in the RECORD following my re- of good repair is crucial to economic stitutional knowledge, not just of his- marks. growth. For too long, American infra- tory and politics and Congress but of There being no objection, the mate- structure has gone without proper in- the very buildings themselves here on rial was ordered to be printed in the vestment, while we simultaneously en- Capitol Hill. Her genuine devotion to RECORD, as follows: gage in a two-decade-long adventure to public service reflected her strong val- STATEMENT OF SENATOR BARBARA A. MIKUL- remake and rebuild the Middle East. ues and character, which her own chil- SKI ON THE PASSING OF BARBARA A. O’MALLEY Rather than increase gas taxes, I hope dren have carried on in their own ca- reers and in service to our State of For over 30 years I have had the good for- to work with Secretary Buttigieg and tune to know one of our state’s greatest the rest of the Biden administration to Maryland and to all Americans. Her treasures, Barbara A. O’Malley, and her pass- put an end to endless wars, stop build- legacy will live on in the hearts of ing on January 6, 2021 has left a hole in our ing infrastructure in Afghanistan, and those she loved, befriended, inspired, hearts the depths of the ocean wide. start building infrastructure in Amer- counseled, and mentored. Barbara Ann Suelzer, the daughter of Jo- ica. Mrs. O set so many fine examples for seph and Martha Dix Suelzer, was born in 1928 and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, f her family and everyone fortunate enough to know her. I work on retire- where she graduated from Central Catholic High School. During World War II and while REMEMBERING BARBARA A. ment issues, and one thing experts rec- O’MALLEY still in high school, she joined the Civil Air ommend is for people to keep working Patrol, Group 523, earned her private pilot Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, if they enjoy their work and are able to certificate in 1946, and then remarkably went today I rise to pay tribute to Barbara continue meeting whatever challenges on to work in the office of Flying Service. A. O’Malley, a beloved wife, mother, it presents. After Mrs. O spent 30 years Shortly thereafter, Barbara Suelzer went grandmother, great-grandmother, dedi- raising her family, she returned to the to Washington, DC to work for Rep. Edward Kruse and then a few years later, while a cated public servant, and a veritable workforce at an age when many people committee woman at the Young Democrats, institution here in the U.S. Senate. are retiring or close to retiring, and she met a young Georgetown University Law She passed away last month at the age then she worked for 30 years, until she School student, Thomas Martin O’Malley. of 93. was 88. Mrs. O was a remarkable Their love of politics grew into a love for one Barbara Ann Suelzer, the daughter of woman who gave enormously of her- another and they were married in 1954. To- Joseph and Martha Dix Suelzer, was self. Myrna and I join the O’Malley gether, they made a home in Rockville, born in 1928 and raised in Fort Wayne, family, Senator Mikulski and her staff, Maryland and raised six wonderful children— four sons: Patrick, Peter, Paul and Martin IN. As a young woman, she was deter- and so many other here in the Senate O’Malley, as well as two daughters, Bridget mined to learn how to fly. She obtained and across our State, in mourning the (O’Malley) Hunter and Eileen (O’Malley) her pilot’s license when she was 18, death of this wonderful woman, but Schempp. using $100 she received for graduating more importantly, we celebrate and To my amazing good fortune, her son, Mar- from high school to pay for the lessons, give thanks for her extraordinary life. tin O’Malley, became my 1986 campaign field and later joined the Civil Air Patrol. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘‘To director and later he went on to become She was also passionate about politics laugh often and much; to win the re- Mayor of Baltimore City, Governor for the State of Maryland, and even a democratic and especially about being a proud spect of the intelligent people and the Presidential candidate. But one of the great- Democrat. She went to Washington to affection of children; to earn the appre- est things Governor O’Malley did for me work for her local Congressman and ciation of honest critics and endure the apart from his own service, was that he rec- met her future husband, Thomas Mar- betrayal of false friends; to appreciate ommended his mother apply for the recep- tin O’Malley, at the Young Democrats beauty; to find the beauty in others; to tionist job in my new Senate office starting headquarters; they were married in leave the world a bit better whether by in January 1987. It was my distinct pleasure 1954. a healthy child, a garden patch, or a re- to have her on my staff until my retirement in January 2017. Over the next 30 years, Barbara deemed social condition; to know that For all who knew her, Mrs. O, greeted O’Malley raised six children—one of one life has breathed easier because every constituent with kindness, care and whom, Martin J. O’Malley, became you lived here. This is to have suc- consideration in what was after all, the peo- Governor of Maryland. She was a de- ceeded.’’ At home with her family, in ple’s house. She had a great love of history, voted mother, grandmother to 15 her community, and here in the U.S. and she knew the history of the Capitol. She grandchildren, and great-grandmother Senate, Mrs. O certainly succeeded. knew every nook and cranny, even the base- to 8 great-grandchildren. Mr. President, I am not the only per- ment, and when school groups came to the Capitol, it was Mrs. O who led the tour. She In 1986, with her children grown, Bar- son who would like to pay tribute to also developed relationships with other staff- bara O’Malley returned to Capitol Hill Mrs. O. Senator Mikulski, who served ers and loved playing poker—and became a to work as a receptionist for another in the Halls of Congress for 40 years— legend for her skill at the game—especially Barbara—Barbara Mikulski—who was 30 years in this body and 10 years in the with other senators. Indeed, her love of fly- elected to the Senate that year. She House of Representatives—has provided ing combined with her passion for history, was ecstatic to work for a female Sen- a tribute. She is not only the longest inspired her volunteer work as a docent for ator. At the time, there were just two serving woman in all of Congress but the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum for female Senators: Senator Mikulski and also the first Democratic woman elect- many years. In 2016, Mrs. O was formally rec- ognized by the U.S. Civil Air Patrol during Senator Nancy Kassebaum from Kan- ed to the U.S. Senate in her own right, their 75th Anniversary Gala and received a sas. Barbara O’Malley stayed in the the first woman to chair the Senate replica of CAP’s 2014 Congressional Gold Senate for as long as Senator Mikulski Appropriations Committee, an inductee Medal for her service during World War II. did—30 years. During that time, she into the National Women’s Hall of I, along with my entire office, counted on made the Mikulski staff, constituents, Fame, and a recipient of the Presi- Mrs. O over the course of 30 years. She was other Senators and their staff, and ev- dential Medal of Freedom award from honest, kind, and looked out for one and all. Her life was rooted deep in her Catholic faith eryone else who visited the Mikulski President Barack Obama. As we re- and together, we served the people of Mary- office an extension of the O’Malley member Mrs. Barbara O’Malley, this land and this great nation. My deepest con- family. Everyone who knew her felt great public servant and longtime dolences go out to the entire O’Malley fam- that bond. staffer to Senator Mikulski, I thought ily and to her extended Mikulski staff family VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:22 Feb 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02FE6.007 S02FEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S243 who also feel her loss.